Exothermic or endothermic? Classifying reactions

Measuring the temperature of a liquid to determine whether the reaction is exothermic or endothermic

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Decide whether various reactions are exothermic or endothermic by measuring temperature change in this practical. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

This is a useful class experiment to introduce energy changes in chemical reactions, suitable for 11–14 and 14–16 year olds. Students measure the temperature changes in different reactions taking place in a polystyrene cup, classifying the reactions as exothermic or endothermic.

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